Learning
Shotokan
Karate
Resources for Students
Learning
Shotokan Karate
Resources for Students

Resources for Learning Shotokan Karate

Learning karate is both rewarding and challenging. To progress through the different Kyu (grades) you will be encouraged to grade (examination), when your sensei or instructor thinks that you are ready.

Each Kyu grade is assigned a different colour belt with all beginners starting with a white belt right through to black belt – which can only be achieved with hard work and dedication.

Depending on your kyu or dan grade you will be expected to learn the relevant katas which is one of the most rewarding, yet challenging aspects of Karate.  As you progress through your  belts you will be expected to know all of the kata below your current grade and be able to perform anyone of them to a good standard.  

A continuous journey of trying to improve each of your existing techniques  whilst embracing the opportunity to learn the new 

Download and keep a set of diagrams of all the KATA to help you with your karate training.

Kata videos for your home training

Here are some useful videos of your Shotokan Karate kata from white belt (10th Kyu) to first dan black belt (1st dan).
For each grading you will be expected to be able to perform the kata associated with your current belt and all of the kata from your previous belts. 
TOP TIP – Click on the belt colour you wish to practice, when in You Tube, click the settings cog and slow the “playback speed” to 0.25

kokoro-karate-dojo-you-tube

Recommended Karate Books and Equipment

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Discounted Karate Clothing & Equipment

Glossary of Japanese Terms

General Terms

Dojo – Training Hall
Sensei – Instructor
Rei – Bow
Migi – Right
Kamae-te – Move to ready position
Mawatte – Turn
Gi – Karate suit
Kime – Focus
Kihon – Basic techniques
Kumite – Sparring
Jodan – Head
Oss – Respectful greeting

Dojo Kun – Dojo code
Seiza – Kneel
Yoi – Ready
Hidari – Left
Hajime – Start/begin
Yame – Finish/stop
Obi – Belt
Kiai – Martial shout
Kata – Formal exercise
Zanshin – Martial state of mind
Chudan – Middle body
Gedan – Lower body

Dachi - Stances

Shizentai – Natural stance
Musubi dachi – Informal stance
Kiba dachi – Straddle stance
Kokutsu dachi – Back stance

Heisoku dachi – Feet together stance
Zenkutsu dachi – Front stance
Shiko dachi – Open leg/Sumo stance

Uke - Blocks

Gedan barai – downward block
Soto uke – Outside block
Shuto uke – Knife hand block
Nagashi uke – Sweeping block
Empi uke – Elbow block
Morote uke – Augmented block

Age uke – Rising block
Uchi uke – Inside block
Tate Shuto uke – Vertical knife hand block
Haishu uke – Back hand block
Juji uke – X block
Kakewake uke – Wedge block

Tsuki - Punches

Choku tsuki – Straight punch
kizami tsuki – Front hand punch
Kagi tsuki – Hook punch
Sanbon tsuki – 3 punch combination

Oi tsuki – Stepping punch
Gyaku tsuki – Reverse punch
Ren tsuki – Two punch combination

Uchi - Strikes

Age empi uchi – Rising elbow strike
Mawashi empi uchi – Round elbow strike
Tate empi uchi – Downward elbow strike
Uraken uchi – Back fist strike
Nukite – Spear hand thrust
Haito uchi – Right hand strike

Yoko empi uchi – Side elbow strike
Ushiro empi uchi – Reverse elbow strike
Shuto uchi – Knife hand strike
Tetsui uchi – Hammer fist strike
Taisho uchi – Palm heel strike

Geri - Kicks

Mae geri – Front kick
Yoko geri kekomi – Side thrust kick
Ushiro geri – Back kick
Ren geri – Alternating leg kick combination

Yoko geri keage – Side snap kick
Mawashi geri – Roundhouse kick
Hiza geri – Knee kick
Nidan geri – Two kicks with same leg

Kumite - Sparring

Sanbon kumite – Three step sparring
Kihon ippon kumite – Basic one-step sparring
Kaeshi ippon kumite – Reaction sparring

Gohon kumite – Five step sparring
Jiyu ippon kumite – Semi-free style sparring
Jiyu kumite – Free style sparring

Kazu - Numbers

Rei – Zero
Ichi – One
Ni – Two
San – Three
Shi – Four
Go – Five
Roku – Six
Shichi – Seven
Hachi – Eight
Ku – Nine
Ju – Ten

Ju ichi – Eleven
Ju ni – Twelve
Ju san – Thirteen
Ju shi – Fourteen
Ju go – Fifteen
Ju roku – Sixteen
Ju shichi – Seventeen
Ju hachi – Eighteen
Ju ku – Nineteen
Ni ju – Twenty
Ni ju ichi – Twenty one

Table of Japanese terms for learning karate

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